Automatic gate



E. ROMAN AToMATIc GATE 4Film1 April 19, i945 `lune 8, 1948.

-2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTCR Emanuel Roman y www @ma June 8, 1948.

Filed April 19, 1945 E. ROMAN .AUTQMATIC GATE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTQR Em an uelloman Patented June 8, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AUTOMATIC GATE Emanuel Roman, Wheeling, W. Va.

Application April 19, 1945, Serial No. 589,195

3 Claims. l

This invention relates to a self-closing gate, and particularly to a self-closing gate so constructed and arranged that it is adapted to satisfactory use in homes, and in other localities to enclose children and domestic animals such as dogs.

Whereas self-closing gates are well known structures in buildings of a public sort, as in the guard gates used in railway stations. at the openings of elevator shafts and the like, such gates are not adapted in their structural principles to domestic and like uses in which both structural simplicity and the avoidance of exposed springs are matters of primary importance. As will appear, my invention concerns itself with the provision of a self-closing gate of the well known lazy-tongs type which gives simplicity of structure combined with ease and safety in operation in an order not possessed by gates of the same general sort which previously have been used.

The objects of my invention are to provide a gate of the lazy-tongs type which is self-closing and self-latching, which is of simple construction, which runs easily under either manually exerted force or its associated automatic propelling means, in which the gate latches automatically and securely, and in which propelling means for the gate are housed in a position beyond the expansible and contractible structure of the gate to extend along such structure.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating the physical embodiment of my invention:

Fig. I is a front elevation of a preferred form of my self-closing gate.

Fig. II is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view through the automatic latch and associated structural elements of the gate.

Fig. III is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken from the lower right hand region of Fig I, showing in detail the portion of the automatic gate-propelling means located in that portion of the assembly.

Fig. IV is a, cross-sectional view taken in the plane of the section line IV-IV of Fig. III.

Fig. V is a fragmentary front elevation of the gate assembly corresponding generally to Fig. I of the drawing but showing a structural modication in the automatic propelling means for the gate.

Referring to the structure shown in Figs. I to IV, reference numeral I designates generally the contractible and expansible lazy-tongs structure of the gate. The lazy-tongs consists of a plurality of vertically extended parallel bars 2 and a plurality of vertically extended parallel bars 3, the bars 2 and 3 respectively being oppositely inclined to form crossing diagonals and being hinged each to at least two bars of the opposed set. At two junction points the lazytongs assembly is hinged to a vertical bar 4, as by straps 5, for attachment by means of such bar to a fixed upright structure which may be a door frame, post, or similar member. At its other end the lazy-tongs assembly has a pair of straps l, which hingedly connect two hinge parts la and Ib of the tongs to a. vertical bar 8, which serves as the movable terminal of the lazy-tongs. At its lower end vertical bar 8 carries a roller a to facilitate movement of the bar in contraction and expansion of the lazy-tongs to open and close the gate.

In the expanded or closed position of the gate it is latched by engagement of vertical bar 8 with one or more spring catches IIJ secured in fixed position to the frame member or post I I in alignment with the expansible and contractible structure of the gate. The single spring latch shown has at the open end of leaves I2 inwardly extended curved portions I3 which yieldingly restrict the width of the latch opening. When the gate is completely closed, vertical bar 8 is forced between the restricting portions I3 of latch Ill to lie within the body of the latch. Desirably the latch or latches I0 are relatively broad vertically of the gate, and the resilient material of which they are formed is suiliciently stiff to require the exertion of a substantial force to Withdraw bar S from the latch.

Below the lazy-tongs structure of the gate and in line with the lower edge of that structure there is a spring housing I4, which is shown in its simplest form as two outwardly curved bars of wood, or the like, laterally spaced from each other to receive a coil spring I5. Itis to be understood, however, that this housing may be constructed of metal, plastic, or other suitable material, and be of a more specialized form than the structure shown. In the preferred form of the gate shown in Fig. I, the spring is a compression spring surrounding a longitudinal rod I6, which passes through bar 8 and is socketed into the frame member, or post, Il in such manner that the spring bears at one end against the surface of the bar. 'I'he other end of spring I5 bears against a rigid member Il into which also rod I6 is socketed.

In opening the gate manual pressure exerted on vertical bar forcing it toward the fixed bar 4 of the gate contracts the lazy-tong structure to provide an opening through the area guarded by the gate. In so doing coil spring I5 is com- 3 pressed and the strength ot the spring is such that substantial force is required so to compress it as to leave an opening suflicient for passage through the guarded area. Upon release of vertical bar 8 the lazy-tong structure expands under the force of the coil spring housed at the base of the gate, and thus urges vertical bar 8 along the path defined by housing Il into the position it occupies when the gate is closed. In the final stage of this movement the force of spring i5 causes Vbar 8 to enter the colistricted throat of latch or latches l rmly to engage the bar therein. To again open the gate it is then necessary that sufilcient manual force be exerted both to overcome the engagement of the latch or latches on bar 8 and to compress spring i in contraction of the lazy-tong structure sunlcient to expose a 4substantial opening in the guarded area. The latching of the gate naturally prevents its being opened by a dog or other household pet, and I have found it practical to make the spring and the latch or latches of such cooperative strength that the force required to open the gate is beyond that possessed by a young child. Because of this cooperation the resistance to opening movement of the gate is adequate without using a coil spring so strong that it may propel the gate with force suiilcient to cause injury.

It is to be noted that the automatic propelling means for the gate, namely the coil .spring i5, lies wholly beneath the lazy-tong structure of the gate, and that it is completely housed. Also it is to be noted that the spring bears directly against the vertical bar 8 which forms the movable frame element of the gate.

As above described, the coil spring I5 which provides automatic propulsion to close the gate is a compression spring. It is, however, possible to utilize in the same association a coil tension spring as shown in Fig. V. In this figure of the drawings the lower region of the lazy-tong structure designated generally by reference numeral ic, has connectionsla with vertical frame bar 8a of the gate. Coil spring i8 is engaged by a short hook I9 to the hinge between two of the diagonal vbars 2a and 3a at the base of the lazy-tong structure, in such position that when the gate is closed the spring lies in its normal or contracted position. At its other end spring i8 has a connecting member 20. passing through an opening 2| in vertical bar 8a and engaged with the fixed post or frame structure l la. In opening the gate, the exerted force thus extends spring i8 to place it under tension, and upon its release the gate is propelled to closed and latched position in a manner similar to that described for the preferred form of the organization. It should be noted thatin this modified form of my gate spring I8 similarly to springl 5, 1s completely contained in housing Ma.

It will be noted that the above modification is within the principle of my invention as embodied in the preferred form thereof. and various other structural modifications of minor import may be made without departing from the bounds of the invention as dened by the claims appended hereto.

- I claim as my invention:

1. A self-closing gate comprising in combination a lazy-tongs structure stationarily mounted along one vertical edge thereof, said structure comprising two sets of oppositely inclined bars each bar of each set being hinged intermediate its' length to at least two bars ot the opposed set, a movable frame element secured along the opposite vertical edge of. the lazytongs structure, a resilient latch structure tixedly mounted in position to engage the movable trame element of the lazy-tongs structure, a housing mounted'beneath and longitudinally in line with the lower edge of the said lazy-tongs structure, and a coil spring in said housing bearing against the lower region ot the said movable frame element to resist contraction of the lazy-tongs structure, to open the gate and to exert a force serving to close the gate by expansion or the lazytongs structure and to engage the said movable frame element with the said resilient latch structure.

2. A self-closing gate comprising in combinanation a lazy-tongs structure stationarily mounted along one vertical edge thereof, said structure comprising two sets of oppositely inclined bars each bar of each set being hinged intermediate its length to at least two bars o i the opposed set, a movable frame element secured along the opposite vertical edge of the lazy-tongs structure, a resilient latch structure fixedly mounted in position to engage the movable frame element of the lazy-tongs structure, a housing mounted beneath and longitudinally in line with the lower edge of the said lazy-tongs structure, and a coll compression spring in said housing and extended therealong and bearing against the lower region of the said movable vertical frame element to resist contraction of the lazy-tongs structure, to open the gate and to exert a force serving to close thegate by expansion o! the lazy-tongs structure and to engage the said movable frame element with the said resilient latch structure.. i

3. A self-locking gate comprising in combination a lazy-tongs structure stationarily mounted along one vertical edge thereof, said structure comprising two sets of oppositely inclined bars each bar of each set being hinged intermediate its length to at least two bars of theopposed set, a movable frame element secured along the opposite vertical edge of the lazy tongs structure, a resilient latch structure xedly mounted in position to engage the movable frame element of the lazy tongs structure, and a housed coil spring mounted adjacent the lower edge of the lazy tongs structure and resisting contraction of the lazy tongs structure, to open the gate and exerting a force serving to close the gate by expansion of the lazy tongs structure and to engage the said movable frame element with the said resilient latch structure.

EMANUEL ROMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent: f

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

